European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - November 22, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Magazine a photo a Witt african Stref  a watch to a woman in new York  of Africa to mid Manhattan Street vendors peddle their wares by Mitchell Landsberg associated press picture a West african Street Market paddlers in boldly patterned clothes banter in French interspersed with tribal languages while hawking fruit vegetables and clothes of All descriptions. Now picture a major Manhattan thoroughfare five lanes jammed with hundreds of taxis lined with cathedrals 60-Story buildings and a Low dozen of the world s most exclusive shops. Superimpose the two images and you have a portrait of fifth Avenue at noon. For several years now mid Manhollan has become a Magnet for West african Street paddlers driven by famine and drought and ambition from Senegal Gambia the Ivor coast. Cameroon Chad. Nigeria and neighbouring countries other groups of immigrants have monopolized food sales but the africans have dominated the Market in an Eclectic inventory of consumer goods ranging rom Cut rate umbrellas neckties and scarfs to phony Rolen watches. ._,.virtually All by their own admission Are breaking the Law since they possess neither Green cards nor peddle permits. If i am Lucky i can sell,1 says one peddle who has been nested four times in three months. If i Ami not i Otto Jair Why does he bother a Job is very difficult of irks in  Amto Wleh sran new Lile abroad. I have my Liberty Here. Showing up on Midtown Whitith their French colonial background had Long journeyed to Paris to peddle their wares. Over the past Lew years. New York has become the preferred destination. In Manhattan the african paddlers quickly earned a place in local folklore for their uncanny timing and marketing savvy. At the first drop of rain paddlers unpacked umbrellas. At the sight of the Sun they set out sunglasses. And As sure As the North wind blew in the Winter so did paddlers appear with scarfs and  sense is that it s a cultural thing says Legal Aid society lawyer Russell Neufeld. My ancestors had push Carls on the lower East Side. These Guys sell off  Aye press attache at the senegalese embassy in Washington. Estimates that there Are 600 to 900 senegalese in new York. Some work Lor the United nations and other International organizations almost All the rest Are paddlers. There Are Only a handful of senegalese paddlers in other cities. Although peddling is a time honoured occupation in Africa Lew of the paddlers on new York streets say they were paddlers at Home. Ii was their Lack of any occupation that sent Tham abroad. In new York their Lack of English and working permits the Green cards limited their Choice of occupations. By most accounts the african paddlers Ara mostly Well educated religious and. Aside from their illegal occupation Law abiding. As moslem they neither drink nor take drugs. All the africans you see Hare Are intellectual Guys says John Dacosta a Friendly 26 year old from Yaounde Cameroon. Africans Are not criminals. Africans like work  the City licenses 855 general vendors in addition to hundreds of Lood vendors. Licensees must have work permits or be american citizens and must Post a $2 500 compliance Bond in addition to a Small License fee virtually All the West africans Are unlicensed. The presence of the illegal paddlers infuriates Midtown merchants who pay some of the highest taxes and rents in the world end Aren t kindly disposed toward salesmen whose Only overhead is someone else s awning.  array on Minh out Huml of photo saturday november 22, 1986 the stars and stripes Page 13